The Pistons committed 11 turnovers in the third quarter and
succumbed to Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in a 94-82 loss
to the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won eight straight home
games.

Detroit (40-28) has taken control of the Central Division by
winning the first four games of its pivotal five-game trip.

For 2 1/2 quarters, the Pistons challenged the two-time
defending champion Lakers before their sloppiness got the best
of them.

The Lakers took advantage of six turnovers by the Pistons to
close the quarter with a 14-4 run and open a 70-60 lead.

O'Neal scored eight points, including back-to-back dunks near
the end of the spurt.

"Turnovers are problems, but turnovers for points are a bigger
problem an that's something that's haunted us all year,"
Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. "At key times tonight, they
were able to convert on some plays where we turned it over."

"We got kind of careless with the ball in the third quarter,"
Pistons forward Corliss Williamson said.

Detroit remained sloppy in the fourth quarter, committing
another five turnovers and failing to get closer than seven
points.

"We played OK in spurts, but we could not deliver the killer
blow," said Bryant, who scored just six points after the first
quarter. "We will just take the win and move on."

The Lakers remained unbeaten at the Staples Center since
February 19. They avoided their second three-game losing
streak of the season and beat the Pistons for the eighth
straight time dating to January 18, 1997.

Los Angeles (48-20) visits Sacramento on Sunday in a battle of
the top teams in the Pacific Division. The Lakers trail the
Kings (49-18) by 1 1/2 games.

"We were just trying to get back on track," O'Neal said. "We
have a tough one on Sunday, but we'll be ready for it."

Jerry Stackhouse scored 21 points and Williamson and Cliff
Robinson added 17 points each for the Pistons, who shot just 38
percent (26-of-69) and were outrebounded, 47-36.

"It's a good trip overall," Stackhouse said. "We came out,
took care of business, won four of five games. This would have
been a great one to have."

Two free throws by Stackhouse gave Detroit its only lead at
47-46 with 9:32 left in the third quarter. Robinson's
3-pointer forged a 56-56 tie with 4:38 to play before the
Lakers scored eight points off turnovers in their pivotal run.

"That's what they can do when you have Shaquille down there to
protect (the basket)," Pistons guard Chucky Atkins said. "They
anticipate the pass and get to it quickly. They know they've
always got the big man behind him."

In the fourth quarter, Robinson's layup and Jon Barry's two
free throws pulled Detroit within 85-78 with 4:07 to go. But
the Pistons went scoreless for the next three minutes and the
Lakers pulled away.

Bryant's big first quarter gave LA a 27-20 lead that was
widened to 33-21 on Walker's layup. But the Lakers missed all
10 of their 3-pointers in the second quarter and the Pistons
closed to 43-39 at halftime.

"It was just one of those games where I turned to our trainer
Gary Vitti and asked if it was a full moon tonight," Lakers
coach Phil Jackson said. "It was just one of those games.
Everybody was just a little off kilter."